About
The United States of America is one of the largest countries in the world by territory and population, a global leader in economy, science, and technology.
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Cities and Resorts
What to See
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faq.subtitle USA
Citizens of 41 countries can use ESTA (Visa Waiver Program) for stays up to 90 days. ESTA costs $21 (increases to $40 from Sept 2025). Russians and many other nationalities need B1/B2 visa ($185). Apply at esta.cbp.dhs.gov. Passport must be valid 6+ months.
Tipping is mandatory, not optional! Restaurants: 18-20% of bill. Bars: $1-2 per drink. Taxi/Uber: 15-20%. Hotels: $2-5/day housekeeping, $1-2/bag bellhop. Servers earn $2.13/hour base wage and depend on tips. Tip is added before tax.
Highly recommended! US healthcare is extremely expensive: doctor visit $200+, ambulance $1,000+, surgery $50,000+. Get insurance with minimum $100,000 medical coverage. Not legally required but financially essential. Many policies exclude pre-existing conditions.
Sales tax (5-10%) is NOT included in displayed prices and is added at checkout. Tax varies by state: Oregon 0%, California 7.25%, New York City up to 8.875%. Some states have no sales tax. Always expect to pay more than the price tag shows.
Connectivity & Internet
Average Speed170 Mbps
4G Coverageexcellent in cities, variable in rural
SIM from T-Mobile, AT&T, Verizon costs $30-60 for 10-50GB. Available at airports and stores. 5G widespread. National parks may have limited coverage.
Electricity
Voltage:120VV
Frequency:60HzHz
⚡
A
B
US Type A and B plugs (flat parallel blades, B has grounding). Voltage 120V, 60Hz. EU travelers need adapter and voltage converter
Local Transport
Operators: Greyhound, FlixBus, Megabus, Peter Pan
Booking: greyhound.com, flixbus.com, megabus.com
Popular Routes
Chicago-Detroit5-6h
$20-50
New York-Boston4-5h
$15-40
New York-Washington DC4-5h
$20-45
Los Angeles-San Francisco8-10h
$25-60
USA is huge—flying is essential for long distances. Southwest and Frontier offer budget flights from $60. Amtrak is scenic but slow—NYC to LA takes 3 days ($217+). Buses like Greyhound are cheapest ($15-60) but uncomfortable for long trips. Northeast corridor (NYC-Boston-DC) has fast Acela trains. Book flights 2-3 months ahead.
Local Cuisine
Hamburgers
burgers
barbecue
Tipping
Local term: Gratuity/Tip
Restaurants
15-20% standard, 20-25% for excellent serviceTaxi
15-20% of fareHotels
Porter2-5 USD per bag
Housekeeping3-5 USD per night
Concierge5-20 USD for special service
Tours
Guide (per day)10-20 USD per person
Driver (per day)5-10 USD per person
Tipping is essential in the USA - service workers rely on tips as primary income. Standard restaurant tip is 15-20% before tax, 20-25% for excellent service. Always tip in cash when possible.